Zenith has collaborated with popular Japanese brand for bags, Porter, to create two new timepieces as part of its Pilot collection—Pilot Automatic Porter Edition and Pilot Big Date Flyback Porter Edition. In khaki or olive, a signature colour of Porter bags, the ceramic watches are a limited edition of 500 each.
Both the brands are known for their common interest in travel. First launched 1888, Zenith’s Pilot collection was revamped and relaunched in 2023, and takes inspiration from aviation. On the other hand, Porter is a well-known Japanese manufacturer of high quality travel bags, and takes its name after the traditional luggage porters found in hotels. The brand was founded by Yoshida & Co. in 1962.
The Pilot Automatic Porter Edition (Ref. 49.4001.3620/63.I001) is a 40mm timepiece in a matte-finished ceramic case capped with a flat-top round bezel. The oversized crown made with black PVD steel has a surface for easy grip. The dial is textured and grooved, and takes cues from the corrugated metal sheets used to make the fuselage of older aircrafts; it also features logos of both the brands. All the three hands are coloured in orange, taking after the orange interiors of the Porter bags and the orange-coloured aviation jackets used for rescue operations for enhanced visibility. The hands as well as the Arabic numerals are filled with white Super-LumiNova C1. The 6 o’clock hour marker is represented by a horizontal white line as seen in the artificial horizon instrument in planes. The date window in the matching colour scheme rests beneath it.
The timepiece is powered by El Primero 3620 high-frequency manufacture movement with a reserve of about 60 hours, whose oscillating weight resembles the artificial horizon instrument. It comes with two interchangeable straps, thanks to the quick-release system. There’s a khaki nylon fabric strap by Porter closed with orange Velcro, and a khaki cordura-effect rubber strap with a black PVD steel folding buckle.
The second timepiece is the Pilot Big Date Flyback Porter Edition (Ref. 49.4001.3652/63.I001) in 42.5mm and follows the same design elements of the Pilot Automatic Porter Edition. This chronograph has black PVD pushers on both sides of the crown. At the simple push of a button, the flyback function resets the chronograph to zero. The dial features the two chronograph counters, 60-seconds at 9 o’clock and 30-minutes at 3 o’clock which displays alternating white and orange outlines to help distinguish the 5-minute intervals. The big date window lies at 6 o’clock above the horizontal hour marker.
Powering it is the high-frequency automatic El Primero 3652 movement with the artificial horizon rotor, offering an autonomy of about 60 hours. The interchangeable straps are the same as the previous model.
Along with the watches, being offered is a Porter messenger bag in khaki, inside which the watch box comes fitted. The inside is in Zenith’s signature blue, reminiscent of the night sky. Like the watch, the bag also features logos of both brands. The Zenith x Porter collection is available for purchase exclusively at Zenith’s boutiques around the globe and the website.
Images: Courtesy Brand
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